Finding Home Again (Catalina Cove) Read online

  He looked over at Sawyer. “If that happens, I’m sure you’ll be quick to arrest her.”

  Sawyer shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t say that I will. I might figure you had it coming.”

  “I will have to agree with him,” Ray added. “I don’t know what happened between you and Bryce years ago, but I’d think the two of you should—”

  “Continue to ignore each other,” Kaegan interrupted.

  “The two of you don’t ignore each other,” Sawyer said, after taking a sip of his coffee. “You antagonize each other. You do her and she does you.”

  Kaegan wished Sawyer hadn’t said that. Why did memories of him and Bryce together suddenly flash through his mind? Her naked beneath him while they made love. He had been her first and she had been his.

  He glanced at his watch. “I got to go. Marty called and one of his kids is sick, so he won’t be coming in. I’ll be helping with deliveries today.”

  Ray raised an eyebrow. “Where’s John?”

  “On vacation. He and his family left Saturday for Walt Disney World.”

  Ray nodded. “You know if you need me to pitch in I’m just a phone call away.”

  Kaegan knew that was true. When Ray had first arrived in town he had worked for him, first out on the boat and then in the office as a bookkeeper. The man had a way with numbers and in the end it was discovered why. He was a Harvard man with dual degrees in computer technology and finance. Even after Ray had started up his own company, Ray Tours, he would often volunteer and help out in any way he could, especially during audit time. Kaegan always welcomed the help. He still did, but knew Ray’s business had grown by leaps and bounds. Instead of one touring boat, Ray now had five. When Ray had gotten his memory back, it was discovered he was a very wealthy man. But Kaegan still appreciated that he hadn’t changed. He was still the laid-back man he considered a close friend.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Kaegan said, standing and leaving enough money on the table to cover his bill and a tip. He glanced over to where Bryce was waiting on another table. Why his gaze had been drawn to her, he wasn’t sure. He never was sure.

  “You’re still leaving, Kaegan?”

  It was then that he realized he had been standing there staring at Bryce. He glanced at his friends. “Yes, I’m still leaving.”

  He then turned and walked out of the café.

  * * *

  BRYCE WAS AWARE the moment Kaegan left because she no longer felt the heat of his gaze on her. Why did knowing he’d been watching her, was always watching her, fill her with a degree of satisfaction?

  She had taken extra time with getting dressed today. Although she’d told herself it hadn’t been for him, she knew it was at him. Maybe it was time for her to let him see what he used to have, but wouldn’t ever have again. One day he would regret believing the worst about her.

  “That will be all, Bryce.”

  She smiled at the Coopers, the couple whose order she’d just taken. Like Ray, Kaegan and Sawyer, the older couple were regulars. “I’ll be back with your tea.”

  As she walked off, she felt the cell phone in the pocket of her jeans vibrate. When she got to the hallway that led to the kitchen, she pulled the phone out of her pocket and saw the caller was Vashti.

  She clicked it on. “Good morning, Vash, and, no, I haven’t forgotten,” she said, before her best friend could tell her the reason for the call. Bryce had promised to cover for her at the inn for a couple of hours while Vashti took her son, Cutter, in for his regular checkup with the pediatrician.

  “Glad you remembered. What time will you get here?”

  “What time do you want me there?”

  Two years ago, Vashti had inherited the inn that sat on the gulf, Shelby by the Sea, from her aunt. She’d spent a year remodeling the place, not only bringing it back to its once glorious splendor, but also adding additional perks that made the inn one of the most sought-out places for newlyweds, couples celebrating anniversaries and writers needing a retreat to be inspired. Reservations were booked months in advance and Shelby by the Sea always had a full house. Most people checked in on Mondays and stayed until Sunday, and some stayed more than one week. Vashti was expecting at least six couples to check in today before noon, which was why she wanted to make sure Bryce covered for her.

  Bryce loved Shelby by the Sea and remembered spending a lot of time there with Vashti while growing up. When Vashti had reopened the inn, Bryce had agreed to be the inn’s assistant manager that first year to help Vashti while she got things off the ground. That meant she was familiar with how things operated at the inn and could step in and help out any time she was needed.

  “My appointment is at ten thirty.”

  “Then I’ll be there at ten. My first appointment isn’t until three.”

  “Thanks, Bryce. You’re a lifesaver.”

  “That’s what friends are for. I’ll see you in a few.”

  She clicked off the phone when a man walked in. Isaac Elloran. He’d graduated from school the same year as her brother Ry and had moved back to the cove last year. His wife—or ex-wife—had graduated with them, as well. According to Ry, the two had been high-school sweethearts who’d gotten married but had divorced a few years ago.

  Bryce didn’t know Isaac that well, but he seemed like a nice guy. And he’d moved back to Catalina Cove to start a new life for himself. She’d heard he was a technology expert who’d sold his business and was able to retire early. It was obvious the man was loaded, with that fancy hot sports car he drove around town and that huge house he’d purchased near the ocean.

  He was also handsome and had caught the attention of a number of the single women in town. However, she noted he didn’t date much, as if refusing to let any woman get too close. She’d also heard from Ry that he was still pining for his wife and the divorce had been her idea and not his.

  She grabbed a menu and headed in his direction when he sat down at a table. Although she was on the lookout for a nice guy, she wouldn’t put Isaac on her list. The last thing she needed in her life was another man who still loved his ex.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  KAEGAN GOT INTO his company’s delivery truck, glad to get out of the office for a while, mainly to breathe in some fresh air. For some reason he felt annoyed this morning and seeing Bryce hadn’t helped. But then, he saw Bryce most mornings at the café, so what made today any different? It could be because of the tiff they’d had Friday night, and then to see her this morning looking just as good, even better than she had on Friday, had annoyed the hell out of him. At the moment he was too mad to ponder why.

  Kaegan had time before his delivery to Shelby by the Sea, so he decided to take what he considered the scenic route, which went through the main section of town. He would be one of the first to admit that Catalina Cove was a beautiful place.

  Kaegan recalled resenting having to leave the security of the bayou to come to this part of town to attend school. He hadn’t liked it until he’d met Vashti and Bryce. Because he’d gotten little schooling before, they’d started him in first grade instead of third, where he belonged due to his age. The other kids ignored him but Vashti and Bryce hadn’t. It wasn’t long before they’d become his best buddies.

  Forcing his mind from that period in his life, he studied his surroundings as he drove through the historical part of the cove. The land the cove sat on had been a gift from the United States government to the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte for his role in helping the States fight for independence from the British during the War of 1812. Some believed Lafitte wasn’t buried at sea in the Gulf of Honduras like history claimed, but was buried somewhere in the waters surrounding Catalina Cove.

  For years because of Lafitte, the cove had been a shipping town. It still was, which was evident by the number of fishing vessels that lined the pier on a daily basis. That accounted for the fact there were a la
rge number of seafood restaurants in town. The Moulden River was full of trout, whiting, shrimp and oysters. Tourists came from miles around to sample the town’s seafood, especially the oysters. The cove’s lighthouse-turned-restaurant was one of the most popular destinations in town. You had to make reservations weeks in advance to get a table.

  It wasn’t long before he pulled onto Buccaneer Lane, where Shelby by the Sea was located. It was a beautiful tree-lined street that ended at the ocean. He noticed the number of vehicles parked in the long winding driveway of the large mansion with the beautiful manicured lawn that sat on the gulf. He recalled hanging out here as a kid with Vashti and Bryce whenever Vashti’s aunt Shelby had something for them to do.

  When he pulled into the yard he was glad none of the cars blocked the lane that went to the back of the inn, where deliveries were made. Some people might find it odd that the CEO of a company would do such a task as he was doing here today, but he wouldn’t ask any of his employees to do something that he himself wouldn’t do. He didn’t spend all his time stuck behind the desk. Usually on Fridays he went out on the harvesting ships with his crew.

  As he got out of the truck to begin unloading, he could truly say that although he and his company were now taking on bigger clients, he still appreciated the local business owners who contracted with his company to provide all the seafood they needed. Shelby by the Sea was one such client.

  When he got everything loaded on the cart, he pulled it through the back and rang the doorbell. He expected Mrs. Livingston, the inn’s chef, to be the one to open the door for the delivery. Instead when the door opened, it was Bryce.

  Kaegan frowned. He’d seen her that morning. Once a day was all he could tolerate of her. “What are you doing here, Bryce? Where is Mrs. Livingston?”

  Bryce moved aside. “She had a run to make to the store and told me to watch out for someone from your company. I expected Marty or John. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Well, you got me.” The minute he’d spoken the words, it flashed through his mind that, no, she didn’t have him. Not in the ways that counted with him.

  “Fine. Just drop it here and leave it.”

  “That’s not how things work. You need to count the number of boxes before signing off on anything, and then I load them in the freezer for you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I know how it’s done, Kaegan. Need I remind you that I used to be the assistant manager here?”

  Honestly, he didn’t need her to remind him of anything. “Why are you here?”

  Instead of answering him, she took her pretty little time scanning the invoice. All four pages. Then she glanced back at him. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Vashti had to leave for a couple of hours to take Cutter in for his checkup and asked me to fill in while she was gone. Anything else you want to know?”

  “Not if it’s going to take you forever to answer.”

  She glared at him and he ignored it and wished he could ignore her. She was wearing the same outfit she’d had on this morning. That same blouse. Those same jeans. Definitely a turn-a-guy-on sort of outfit. When she leaned over to read the labels on each box while checking the items off the invoice, he honestly wished she didn’t tilt her curvy ass up like that while bending over.

  He recalled the times he’d made love to her from behind and how much they’d enjoyed it. On weekends, when he could send for her to meet him halfway between her college and his military base, he would always arrive at the hotel first and they would spend an entire weekend together in bed.

  Kaegan knew he should have suspected something was up when she began canceling some of their romantic weekends, saying she was getting behind in her studies. He’d believed her and had begun feeling guilty that he was interfering with her schoolwork. He’d never suspected the real reason was because she was betraying him with another guy.

  “Everything’s all here,” she said, straightening up and signing the invoice.

  “Fine.” He took the paper from her, being careful not to touch her hand in the process. “Let Vashti know the delivery was made and on time.”

  He headed toward the freezer and began unloading the boxes. She didn’t say anything, but he could feel her standing there and staring at him. The same way he’d stared at her. The heat of her gaze was all over him—he could feel it. He started to say something about her standing there and watching him when the doorbell sounded.

  “That’s probably the Braziers. They’re the last couple Vashti expected to check in before noon.”

  He wondered why she was telling him that. Why was she still there at all? He didn’t get a chance to ask her before the sound of her heels clicking on the tile floor told him she’d left.

  With her departure, he drew in a deep breath, inhaling her lingering scent. He liked it, even though he wished he didn’t.

  Trying to put Bryce, her scent and how good she’d looked out of his mind, he continued to stock the boxes in the freezer. But he still thought about her and couldn’t understand why he was doing so. He tried to remember the last time he’d taken a woman on a date.

  A number of the women in the cove were aware he and Bryce had been sweethearts in high school and had even talked about marriage once she completed college. Many figured it would just be a matter of time before they got back together. Those women didn’t know how wrong that assumption was, but he was willing to let them think whatever they liked. He dated when he got the urge, and usually when he did there was a woman to take off the edge.

  As he was finishing up, he heard the voices belonging to Bryce and two others, and decided he wanted to be gone if Bryce returned. Seeing her twice in one day was enough for him. Nearly too much. He quickly finished what he was doing and left.

  * * *

  “THANKS FOR HELPING out today. Anything interesting happen?”

  Bryce glanced at Vashti. Had her friend known Kaegan would be making those deliveries and hadn’t told her? She would admit that Kaegan seemed as surprised to see her as she’d been at seeing him. “Anything interesting like what?”

  “Anything. Mondays are always interesting here at Shelby. Last Monday we had that dog deliver puppies on the roof of the gazebo. Not sure yet how she got up there. Then the Monday before that we had that paddleboat wash up on shore with clothes but no people. Sawyer is still working with the Coast Guard trying to determine if a couple who possibly went swimming skinny-dipping in the ocean were reported missing. So far no one has filed a missing-person report.”

  Bryce nodded. “The only interesting thing that happened around here was that Kaegan dropped by.”

  Vashti lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “He did?”

  So she hadn’t known. “Yes.”

  “Did he say what he wanted?”

  “He made the normal Monday deliveries,” Bryce said.

  Vashti nodded. “I know John is on vacation, since he mentioned as much a few weeks ago, but where was Marty?”

  “He was out today, as well.”

  Vashti came over to Bryce and looked her over. Bryce gave her a pointed look. “What are you doing?”

  “Checking for battle scars.”

  Bryce rolled her eyes. “You won’t see any. We were pretty cordial to each other.”

  “That’s a switch. Especially after Friday night.”

  “I’m trying, Vash. Of course, he was in his usual foul mood, but I’ve made the decision not to let Kaegan rattle me any longer.”

  “Good. And I hope he’s made that same decision about you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. Did you see Reid’s wedding announcement in yesterday’s paper?”

  Bryce knew Vashti was deliberately changing the subject. “Yes, I saw it.” Reid LaCroix, the wealthiest man in the cove, was getting married.

  “I’m happy for Reid. Gloria is a beautiful soul and
just what he needs. Of course, the girls are thrilled to death about it,” Vashti said.

  “And how are the girls doing?” Bryce asked Vashti about her daughters.

  “They love college and Sawyer and I are glad they decided to attend the same one. I’m looking forward to seeing them over the holidays since Kia will be spending Thanksgiving this year with us. Knowing Gloria and Reid, they will plan their wedding when they know the girls will be here to attend.”

  Bryce nodded. “Speaking of weddings, don’t forget that I’m attending a wedding this weekend. I’m flying out early Friday morning.”

  “I remember. You’ll have to tell me all about it when you get back.”

  “I will.” Bryce glanced at her watch. “Time for me to go. I have that closing at three and want to swing by the office to go over the paperwork before then.”

  A few moments later Bryce was on her way home, but she was still dwelling on her encounter with Kaegan at Shelby by the Sea. Same scent from that morning, when she’d gotten a whiff of him, and he still smelled good a few hours later. While watching him put those boxes in the freezer she had admired his broad shoulders and the way his backside fit his jeans.

  Suddenly she heard a pop and her steering wheel began shaking. A flat tire. Damn. She pulled to the side of the road and tugged the cell phone from her purse to call for roadside service when an SUV pulled alongside of her.

  “Car trouble, miss?”

  She glanced over at the handsome man. She figured he was in his midthirties, possibly a little older. “I believe I have a flat and was about to call for roadside service.”

  “There’s no need to call anyone. I can change it for you.”

  It was a little after the lunch hour and a steady stream of vehicles was on the road. Catalina Cove was a pretty safe town. Sawyer made sure of that. “I hate for you to bother.”

  “No bother.”

  When he pulled off the road to park his SUV in front of her vehicle, she noticed his license plate was for a rental vehicle. Was he visiting someone in the cove?